Sebastian had just set the phone down when Clarissa’s voice came through the intercom.

“Sir, there’s… someone here to see you.”

He could already hear the hesitation in her tone. “Name,” he said.

“Vivienne Marlowe,” Clarissa replied crisply.

Sebastian exhaled through his nose. Vivienne Marlowe—tall, all legs, with that careful blend of elegance and danger that made men with less discipline lose their composure. She’d been circling him for years, especially after his wife’s death, showing up at charity galas, board functions, even once on his yacht without an invitation.

The door swung open before he could respond, and Vivienne glided in like she owned the room. She was wrapped in a cream silk dress that clung to her every curve. The fabric cut just low enough to make her cleavage a deliberate centerpiece rather than an accident. Her hair fell in loose waves that looked effortless but had clearly taken time, and she carried the faintest scent of expensive jasmine perfume—the kind that lingered hours after she was gone.

Her gaze fell on him, and she smiled.

Sebastian watched her approach with an unreadable expression. She really didn’t waste any time. Word must have traveled fast—if Vivienne Marlowe was here, she’d already heard he was back after disappearing for years.

Vivienne paused a few feet away, glancing toward the folder marked CONFIDENTIAL. Then she looked up at him, her smile widening.

Her lips curved in a smile that was more hunt than greeting. “Sebastian, you're looking well,” she purred, drawing out his name as if tasting it. “You’ve been impossible to find.”

“That was the idea,” he said dryly, not moving from behind the desk.

She stepped closer, the click of her heels echoing in the quiet office, her gaze raking over him in a way that made most men feel like prey. “You disappear without a word. Not even a courtesy call. You know I worry.”

“Do you?” His tone was flat.

Vivienne tilted her head, letting a perfectly manicured nail trace the edge of his desk. “You can’t hide forever. I know you better than that.”

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. “You don’t know me at all, Vivienne. You only know the version of me you think you can buy.”

Her smile didn’t falter—if anything, it sharpened. “We’ll see about that.”

"Why are you here, Vivienne?"

She didn't seem offended by the question. In fact, she seemed pleased.

"To make a deal," she purred.

He stared at her. "You've had two decades. And you think now is the right time?"

"There's never a wrong time for business." She moved closer, and he could smell the perfume again. "Besides, the timing is perfect. The market has been good, and the board is getting impatient."

Sebastian raised a brow. "They always are."

"And now you're back, so we can finally move forward. With the merger," she said pointedly, "and our relationship."

His expression darkened.

His expression darkened. “I didn’t come back for a merger or a relationship. Get that idea out of your mind, Vivienne. Whatever you think we had—or could have—it’s not on the table. Not now, not ever.”

Vivienne smiled slowly, like he had made a joke.

"I don't do business with someone I can't control," he added.

"Oh, Sebastian," she murmured. "That's the point, isn't it? It's all about control."

She reached for the folder, and his hand snapped out, catching her wrist in a grip tight enough to make her flinch. He stood, and suddenly the height difference between them was staggering. She was tall, but he was taller, and even if he hadn't touched her, she would have backed away.

"Leave," he growled. "Now."

Vivienne glared at him. Then her gaze dropped to the folder in his other hand. Her eyes flashed with a new spark.

"What's in the file?" she demanded.

Sebastian let go of her arm, and she yanked her wrist away, cradling it in the other hand.

"None of your business," he answered icily.

"So it's a woman."

Sebastian went still, and his expression turned murderous.

Vivienne's smile widened. "It is, isn't it? I wonder what the media will say about that."

Sebastian straightened his spine, looking down at her. "Get out," he said in a deadly quiet voice.

She stared up at him, defiant. "Who is she?"

"That's not your concern."

Vivienne's eyes flashed, and her mouth flattened into a hard line. "It is, actually. As much as I hate to admit it, the company can't survive without you. But if you keep playing these games, the board will find a way to push you out. If you won't give them what they want, then they'll just find someone who will."

"That won't happen."

"It might." She smiled. "After all, your son is the heir, and he's nowhere near ready to take the reins."

Sebastian froze, his body turning to stone.

Vivienne tilted her head. "Don't tell me you don't know. Your little prince is the wild card here, and it won't be long before someone takes advantage of that. You may have hidden him away, but one day he'll find his way to the city, and you won't be able to stop it. You'll have no choice but to step aside. And once the board sees the company isn't under your control, you'll be out. Just like that."

She snapped her fingers.

Sebastian said nothing.

"That's how it works, isn't it?" she murmured. "Once a CEO has a family, they lose control. Family becomes the weakness."

"Is that a threat?"

"Of course not," Vivienne replied, her tone soft. "I'm just making sure you understand. You're not the only one with something on the line."

"My son has nothing to do with this."

"On the contrary. Your son is everything," Vivienne replied.

"Don't you dare touch him," Sebastian warned.

"I won't. But the rest of the board doesn't care. He's next in line. And if he's not up for the task, they'll get rid of him. They're not as sentimental as I am. After all, if your son doesn't step up, the company will have to choose someone else."

She stepped back, smoothing her skirt.

"Think about it. The next CEO will have more influence than you. More power. Who knows what they'll do with all those resources. They could tear down everything you built," she continued, her tone almost casual. "Or maybe they'll take a different approach. Maybe they'll decide the best way to run things is with an iron fist. With force. A new kind of control."

Vivienne smiled and leaned in close.

"And then," she murmured, "there will be nothing left of your empire. No one will remember the man who built it. Just like no one will remember the woman who burned it down."

"Get out!"

Vivienne's eyes flashed. But for a moment, she looked startled, as if she hadn't expected the conversation to turn so abruptly.

"You should really watch that temper of yours, Sebastian," she warned.

"This is my company," he said, his voice low. "Mine. And if you ever try to threaten me, or my son, or my empire again, you won't have a seat on the board. I'll personally ensure you never work another day in your life."

Vivienne blinked. Her mask didn't break, but she took a step back, her eyes going wide.

For a second, Sebastian wondered if he'd crossed a line.

Then she smiled, recovering her composure, her gaze dropping to the file again. "Whatever that file is, I hope it's worth it," she said coolly. "You have a lot to lose."

Sebastian leaned forward.

"Vivienne, if you don't get out right now, I swear—"

"No, no, don't bother." She laughed. "You've already made yourself very clear. And if you change your mind, I'm more than willing to discuss terms."

"The only terms I'm discussing are the ones involving my lawyers."

"Suit yourself," she said, shrugging. "But think about what I said. The board won't wait much longer. And I'd hate to see all that hard work go to waste."

She gave him one last smile, and he could practically see her plotting, the wheels turning in her head.

Clarissa reappeared in the doorway with concern. “Sir, your next appointment is waiting.” Luckily, she appeared to save him at the last minute, just as planned. He’d long ago instructed her to intervene whenever Vivienne showed up unannounced. That cunning bitch was nothing if not persistent, and he had no patience for her games today.

Sebastian gave a single nod. “Show her out.”

Vivienne’s eyes lingered on him for a long beat before she finally turned and stalked toward the door, perfume trailing in her wake.

As soon as the door shut, Sebastian exhaled, letting the rage fade.